Preview- Leagues take on a serious note as clubs close in on some silverware

After having a well earned rest, the penultimate rounds of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior League and Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate League take place this weekend - and it’s all beginning to get very serious!

In the senior grade there are two clear frontrunners with Dicksboro and Glenmore still remaining unbeaten with three wins from three.

With both sides in different groups, it would class as something of a shock if they didn’t meet in a league final but there is still a lot of hurling to do over the next fortnight.

With so much underage talent in their ranks, Dicksboro’s impressive start to the season is far from a surprise. It’s worth remembering that they were the last club outside of the Shamrocks to taste Kilkenny senior championship glory.

Glenmore showed last year that they are no pushovers and they may have counted themselves someway unlucky to have bumped into the Shamrocks in the opening round of the championship, but even the most optimistic of followers would have been hard pushed to predict what has transpired in the last few weeks.

With Shamrocks, James Stephens and Bennettsbridge all drawing and losing a game, Glenmore’s path to a league final looks relatively straightforward, with a win over either the ’Bridge or Graigue-Ballycallan in their remaining games sealing their final berth.

And while Glenmore have top spot in Group A within their grasp only two points separate the other five sides as they all try to work their way out of relegation trouble.

Currently it’s Erin’s Own (one point) and Graigue-Ballycallan (two points) who prop up the table, but with both teams facing each other in Freshford in the final round, a win for either would give them a chance of moving up the table.

There’s so much still to play for in Group A - and the same can certainly be said about the other group.

While Dicksboro lead the way on six points, they are closely followed by both O’Loughlin Gaels and Tullaroan, who have posted two wins apiece.

Any slip-up from the ’Boro would leave the door open for them to be caught however, and with a mouthwatering final round fixture against Tullaroan on the horizon, the city side will be hoping they don’t slip up against Mullinavat on Saturday.

Mullinavat themselves are in a bit of a battle to avoid the drop with Clara sitting alongside them on two points. Their final game will more than likely decide who finishes in the final two spots in the league, with Danesfort appearing destined for that other position after losing all three games thus far.

Senior Fixtures

St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League, round four

Group A

FRIDAY
John Locke Park: Glenmore v Graigue-Ballycallan, 6.30pm.
Muckalee: James Stephens v Erin’s Own, 6.30pm.

SUNDAY
Thomastown: Shamrocks v Bennettsbridge, 2pm.

Group B

SATURDAY
Gowran: O’Loughlin Gaels v Clara, 1.30pm.
Dunnamaggin: Dicksboro v Mullinavat, 2pm.
Canon Kearns Park:Tullaroan v Danesfort, 4pm.

While it’s all to play for at senior level, the intermediate league is even more intriguing, no more so than in Group A where the recently relegated Lisdowney lead the way with full points.

Chasing Lisdowney the hardest are Mooncoin and St Martin’s who are both on four points each. At the other end Conahy may have to brace themselves for a battle to avoid the drop as they sit pointless at the bottom.

The race for a league final place in Group B will come down to a direct shootout between Thomastown and Dunnamaggin when they meet in Tullogher on Friday evening. Given the way the group has transpired, the loser will still be almost guaranteed a place in the shield final which would also seal a championship quarter-final spot.

The opposite end of the table is about trying to finish in third and fourth positions. It remains all to play for here with Rower-Inistioge, Carrickshock and Blacks and Whites all on one win each while O’Loughlin Gaels are rooted to the bottom.

This weekend’s games will help shape the rest of the hurling club season as a relentless period of action begins to move up a notch ahead of the start of the championship in a few weeks’ time.

Intermediate fixtures

Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League, round four

Group A

FRIDAY
St John’s Park: Lisdowney v Mooncoin, 6.30pm.
Urlingford: Fenians v Conahy Shamrocks, 6.30pm.

SUNDAY
Jenkinstown: Young Irelands v St Martin’s, 12.30pm.

Group B

FRIDAY
Tullogher: Dunnamaggin v Thomastown, 6.30pm.

SATURDAY
Inistioge: Blacks and Whites v Carrickshock, 2pm.

SUNDAY
St John’s Park: O’Loughlin Gaels v Rower-Inistioge, 12.30pm.